I'm sorry to hear of this with Molly. "Fluid around the heart" needs to be clarified. In other words, is there fluid between Molly's heart and the pericardium - the thin lining surrounding the heart? This would be a pericardial effusion. Is there fluid in the lungfields? This can occur with left-sided heart failure and asthma. Is there free fluid in the thoracic (chest) cavity? This can occur with heart failure, neoplasia (cancer), infection, and disorders of the lymphatic vessels. It's essential to clarify what that fluid implies because treatment will vary predicated upon the cause. This is done with thoracic X-rays and if the heart is responsible, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) should be performed to better understand what has befallen Molly's heart. For now, it's essential that Molly be prescribed a diuretic such as furosemide (Lasix) which will assist her in ridding excess fluid in her chest whatever the cause of that fluid may be. Please respond with further questions or concerns if you wish.

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Customer reply replied 7 months ago

Thank you. I will call my vet and see if she will prescribe a diuretic. Molly is almost impossible to get to the vet and I'm afraid the stress of forcing her into the carrier could be too much considering her current condition.

You're quite welcome. Yes, a diuretic can be life-saving and may be the only therapy Molly requires. I can't set a follow-up in this venue so please return to our conversation - even after rating - with an update at your convenience. You can bookmark this page for ease of return.

I will tell you that...the things you have to go through to be an Expert are quite rigorous.

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Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.